End of the road for Gael Monfils, the greatest showman in Tennis

For Gael Monfils, the walk back to the locker room after his first-round match at the 2026 Australian Open felt a little longer, a little heavier, and infinitely more nostalgic than the dozens he had made before.

This wasn’t just the end of another tournament. It was the closing of a circle that began nearly a quarter of a century ago. In a sport that often chews up and spits out its stars within a decade, Monfils has remained a constant. A human highlight reel whose career has spanned generations.

Sitting in the press room shortly after his match, the Frenchman didn’t look like a man defeated by a scoreboard. Instead, he looked like a man traveling through time.

When asked what Melbourne meant to him, his eyes brightened, drifting back to a version of himself that existed before the world knew the name “La Monf.”

“I really liked it here because it was for me one of my first trip alone when I was young as I say I came here it was 2003,” Monfils reflected. It is a staggering timeline.

In 2003, the tennis world was a different planet. Pete Sampras had only just retired, and the “Big Three” era was in its infancy. For a teenage Gael, Australia was the great unknown. “I think I came here before I went to America so it was it was funny for me to be here,” he said.

That young boy who landed in Melbourne in 2003 went on to sweep the junior Grand Slams in 2004, establishing a love affair with the Australian public that would never waver.

Over the next twenty-three years, Monfils became the heartbeat of the tournament’s outer courts. Whether it was the high-octane atmosphere of the old Hisense Arena or the rowdy confines of Kia Arena, the Frenchman found a home away from home.

“I have a lot of great memories in juniors in those years 2003 2004,” Monfils told reporters, his voice carrying the weight of a veteran who has seen it all. But it wasn’t just the trophy-laden junior years that stayed with him.

It was the “tough battle here even not the big ones that you say but tough battle.” He specifically pointed to the grueling, physical wars that defined the French golden generation, noting one in particular: “especially with Gilles [Simon] it was it was a fun one”.

The mention of Gilles Simon — his longtime friend and compatriot — served as a reminder of how much the landscape has shifted. Monfils is one of the last men standing from an era of French tennis that promised much and entertained even more.

Throughout his journey, he adopted parts of the Australian culture into his own preparation, revealing that his connection to the continent went deeper than just a two-week visit in January.

“I had the oie coach so it was it was also different the way I was coming to Australia I was there already for for a couple weeks before,” he explained.

However, the road to 2026 was nearly cut short many times. The athleticism that made Monfils a global icon also took a brutal toll on his body.

He admitted during the press conference that he nearly walked away from the sport long ago. “Like many time I am you know I already say that many time this decision you know I had it like long time ago first time was almost in during COVID I wanted to stop almost,” he confessed.

He survived the pandemic-induced doubt, only to face a career-threatening injury when his wife, Elina Svitolina, was pregnant. “When she were pregnant I also rupture my plant fascia so I was also like about to say I was done,” Monfils said. Yet, he kept coming back. He came back for the fans, he came back for his family, and he came back for the “great atmosphere” that only Melbourne can provide.

As he prepared to leave the Australian Open stage for the final time, Monfils didn’t speak of regrets or missed opportunities in Grand Slam finals. He spoke of the journey itself. “Here is definitely a little bit different and I really enjoy my ride here,” he concluded.